Sean the Baptist

I haven't yet listened to this important broadcast on Radio 4.  It will be on again this evening at 9.00 p.m.  But in the meantime Mark Vernon offers a reallynice summary of the gist of the conversation here.

Things have been very quiet here recently.  The reason?  Well other than the usual flurry of activity associated with the start of a new academic year and semester, I have been working hard to get my writing complete before the relevant deadlines.  First up is my paper for SBL which is almost in final form.  As is often the case at SBL, I have only been allotted 30 minutes to make my presentation and engage in discussion with others present - so the main question is how you take an 8,000 word paper and reduce it to 20 minutes.  In fact, because it will be my first SBL, I am looking for all the advice I can get about how to make the best of what looks like a pretty intensive few days.  So, all you bibliobloggers out there, what are your top 3 tips for surviving SBL?

 Update:  Mark Goodacre and John Lyons have both helpfully responded to my plea - both fall into Mark's initial category of 'people you like to spend time with', so a big thanks to both.  I note John's working hypothesis that free drinks may need supplementing by receptions and meetings of a more spiritual nature.

Further Update: Mike Bird's contribution is funny, rude (I may be square but...) and insightful - well not really the latter, except for the advice about alcohol.